Speaking to SoMobile, a representative from the London-based phone-maker assured that its 2011 Xperia smartphones all come with support for Android Ice Cream Sandwich – the next iteration of Google’s mobile OS. Of course, there’s currently no word as to when they’ll be receiving the update, although it’s expected to get official in ‘October or November’.

Although we don’t know much about the incoming update, Google’s promising it’ll be “the most ambitious one yet”, and will bring “all the good stuff” that Honeycomb offers to Android-powered smartphones – including its its holographic user interface, multitasking launcher, and support for advanced applications.

Google has also confirmed that Ice Cream Sandwich will come with a feature dubbed ‘Virtual Camera Operator’, Android’s answer to Microsoft Kinect. According to the search-engine giant this tech will use face detection technology to work out who is talking, offering-up clearer and more advanced video calling features.

Other incoming features include; peer-to-peer NFC functionality, the ability for Android phones to work as USB hubs for hooking up external devices, and what ever else Google is keeping under wraps.

Update: Sony Ericsson has told us that the company has made no official decision to update its 2011 Xperia phones to Android 4.0 – despite the comments from a Sony Ericsson representative at a London press event yesterday. Still, here’s hoping…

Here’s the official statement: “When it comes to future platforms of the Android OS, we will make them available to consumers in a timely manner, as long as they improve the user experience and are viable from a hardware point of view.“